Hey, Jonah – I have a question!

Will God Use It?

Jonah 1:4-16

1. Which way are you going?

2. a. Last week we left Jonah on the run from God.

3. b. He is trying to get as far away from God’s clear directive to preach God’s
4. judgment to his enemies in Nineveh.
5. c. He is on a ship headed to Tarshish – on the western edge of civilization

6. d. Others are now involved in his disobedience

7. Will God use your disobedience? / At what cost?

8. a. Others are always impacted when you disobey God. V 4-6

9. b. They are fearing for their lives, while Jonah takes a nap!

i. Crying out to their gods – no atheists in foxholes

ii. Jettisoning the cargo

• c. They are frantic to find a God who cares!
• d. They are finding who to blame – v7 – Proverbs 16:33; Numbers 32:23
• e. They are forcing a confession – v8-9
• f. They are fixing the problem – v10-15

i. This is confirmed to be a Supernatural issue – beyond terrifying!

ii. They try to get home but realize they are rowing against God.

• g. They reach a final conclusion – v 16

i. Fear; Worship; Commitments

ii. Spiritually rowing with God

iii. Meanwhile Jonah is sinking to the bottom of the Sea – 17,280’ deep!

1. Yes, God used his disobedience!

2. a. But, look at the cost:

i. He paid the fare on the ship that threw him overboard!

ii. He was humiliated to admit that he was running from the God he serves.

iii. He is now sinking in the vastness of the Sea, with no expectation of rescue

iv. He deserves to die for dishonoring and disobeying God & He had to admit it outright to the sailors – whose lives he has endangered by involving them in his disobedience!

1. God’s Grace is on the way in a most unexpected way. But we are going to leave Jonah right here for now – because we need to soak in the realities and ramifications of our choices to disobey our Holy and Righteous God – the one whom we say we fear!